A/N- Back to school tomorrow grrr. This chapter was inspired by a discussion I had with my Dad and "Dream Collapsing" from Inception, by Hans Zimmer. However, my Dad's idea was to blow Morgana up with a nuclear bomb, so I won't take too much inspiration from him in future.
I own no-one apart from Tarrian and Ignitrus.
Begin, my dear readers!
"O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!" – Hamlet, William Shakespeare
Ignitrus stepped calmly along the corridor. He had one thought on his mind. I seemed to hammer against his skull. The point of his life was to reason, to whittle things down to the very base of their existence. Therefore, he spent much of his time thinking and planning. He knew that the only logical path to gaining power was to kill Morgana.
Rain lashed down outside the strong fortress walls. The wind was making a hollow howling noise, as if a huge monster was outside, singing to the moon. Singing about how it longed to be loved, not feared.
Ignitrus was near to Morgana's door now. Every footstep seemed to ring out impossibly loud, but at the same time he knew they couldn't possibly be heard over the noise of the anguished monster outside.
Closer.
Closer.
CLOSER.
Had his brain been capable of it, he would have felt sad – even guilty – at what he was about to do. No, it was the only logical path. The guards would give in to him once they realised how much better he would be for the kingdom. He would make the kingdom better. Better. He repeated the word to himself. It was a nice word; a clean word. No unnecessary sounds. Much like him.
Better.
Merlin awoke with a stiff back and aching legs from sleeping in a half sitting, half crouching position. Sighing, he stood up. He'd overheard one of the other servants saying that it helped to touch your toes, because it got the blood flowing around your body and balanced the humours. He tried it. Nope, still achy. His chains were freezing cold and almost burned his wrist when he moved. To make things worse, his clothes were damp from the rain. Hadn't Morgana heard of putting glass in her windows?
Limping slightly, he walked the length of the corridor - with a pause in the middle to moan as cramp set in – and returned to the small alcove no doubt worn into the wall by generations of sleeping servants. The fact that he was tucked out of sight in the wall meant the he didn't notice Ignitrus until he was two feet away from the alcove. Merlin thought about saying something, as he would back when Arthur controlled the castle, then realised that there was absolutely nothing he had to say. His whole life, he had been a servant. But he had been so much more than that – a friend, adviser... maybe even an equal. But now he was no more than a servant.
He was so lost in this revelation that he didn't hear the chair being overturned in Morgana's chambers.
Ignitrus stepped into Morgana's chambers. She rose from her chair and smiled.
"My lady, how wonderful it is to be in your presence." He bowed low, one arm extended.
"Dear Ignitrus, if you bow like that every time you see me, Merlin will no longer have to sweep my floors!" They both laughed, although it was more strained from Ignitrus. He stood next to her and placed a hand on her back. A little forward, perhaps, but necessary. She relaxed into his hand and seemed to enjoy the touch of another person. He smiled to himself. Stupid girl, mistaking his actions for affection when he was really checking where her ribs were.
A crack of thunder rolled around the castle. Morgana looked out of the window and Ignitrus seized his chance. Stepping closer, he plunged the knife between her ribs. Opening her mouth in the start of a scream, Morgana gasped as he removed the blade and she fell back heavily, knocking her chair to the ground.
Why can't I summon my magic why won't it work why won't it why can't I help mehelp-
Ignitrus saw her eyes flicker gold as the wound began to heal. Of course, no mortal blade, blah blah. Not a problem, he just had to kill her without using a blade.
Quickly scanning the room with cold, silent eyes, he settled on a heavy quill holder. Ignitrus picked it up and felt the weight in his hand. Not perfect, but it would have to do.
Merlin looked up at the sound of a dull thud. For some reason, that noise felt wrong. So, so wrong. He started to run. When Merlin burst into the room, the first thing he saw was Morgana on the floor, blood running down her forehead. She had imprisoned his friends. Taken his magic. He should hate her, he should be pleased to see her there.
Why couldn't he hate her? She looked so alone, so lost.
A noise behind him. Merlin turned quickly. There was no-one there. Wind howled through the open window, making the curtain billow up. Merlin walked slowly over to it, making sure he didn't disturb the unconscious Morgana. He held back the curtain, and, not entirely sure why he was doing it, looked out of the window. Far below them lay a blood-stained block of wood. Merlin recognised it as the quill holder Arthur had bought Morgana when he had annoyed her years ago.
Merlin shut the window and turned back to Morgana. His eyebrows were creased together the way they always did when he concentrated.
On a cord around Morgana's neck was a key. The key to his chains. Reaching down, he grabbed it and pulled, breaking the cord. Slowly, hardly daring to breathe, he slipped the key into the lock on his left cuff and turned it. The cuff opened. He did the same on his right, and the chains fell to the floor.
Merlin staggered slightly, and steadied himself on the table. Black spots appeared on his vision, and he felt a sharp pain as if a taut rope had suddenly been released and had snapped against him. Merlin's eyes glowed gold and he almost seemed to grow a few inches. He smiled and felt warmth surge inside him, filling the cold, empty corners with golden light.
His magic had been returned.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are welcomed in with cake and a marching band.